Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 474 Awake

Ella

I’m groggy, a few hours later, when I wake up because I honestly haven’t gotten much sleep. But still, I’m instantly aware that I’m awake because something in my body is…different.

s my eyes crack open, I have absolutely no idea what it is, and no real interest in finding out. Because nothing feels wrong or off…just… different…

So, I yawn and snuggle my body back against my naked mate, my spine pressed to his warm stomach. Sinclair gives a deep, sleepy little growl as he tightens his arm around me, holding me close even as he sleeps. I smile at this, happiness sweeping through me as I think about how lovely it is to have a mate that holds me and protects me even when he’s mostly unconscious.

And he’s so warm, and the bed is so soft, and the sheets are so smooth under my bare skin that I almost…

Almost fall back asleep…

But then? My eyes suddenly fly open.

Because there is…there is something new within me.

As I start to put the pieces together, I am instantly, starkly awake – and so is Rafe, I realize, as I peer through the dark over the side of the bed. My sweet baby is peering at me curiously through the slats of his crib – almost as if he can feel it too

This new…new thing within me, a bond that wasn’t there hours ago – but which is there now, just a tiny silver thread of something new

My hands fly to my mouth and my eyes instantly fill with tears because even though I didn’t experience this with Rafe – my wolf wasn’t awake then, after all, to help me feel it – I suddenly know precisely what it is.

My voice is shaky as I breathe the word, hardly daring to voice it.

“…baby – ”

Rafe burbles something, smiling at me and leaning forward, grabbing the edges of his crib, trying to pull himself up so that he can be closer – almost like he knows it too –

And suddenly I’m laughing – the sound bubbling out of me, rich with joy. “Baby!” I say again, sitting up in a flash.

spin to him, pushing him onto

shriek, thrilled, almost in pieces because of it, completely unable to contain myself, or think coherently,

tightening on my hips as he stares up at me, confused – worried but one look at my thrilled face makes him

giggling as I lean forward. “Don’t you

frowns at me confused for a second

wide and

little so that I’m sitting in his lap, his arms going tight around me as he stares down into my face. “Oh my god,” he murmurs, still shocked, still feeling it

I shriek, throwing my hands in the air

tears as a mystified smile finds his lips. “Oh my god, Ella, another baby –

head against my

sudden anxiety, and joy, and pride, and a thrilled sense

pull his face up to mine, grinning at him with abandon and wiping away his shocked and happy tears. “A little baby, Dominic,” I murmur, beaming into his face.

laughing a little in shock. He pulls away from me just

and kissing him, passing all my own joy down the bond. Because this moment – I’ve been waiting for it my whole life. A

all the love in his heart, holding me close and

says, his voice eager and

curious and a little anxious – is the

my cheek. “Close your eyes,” he murmurs, his voice excited, if soft. I do as he says, loosing a deep breath and draping my arms lightly around his neck before I close my eyes. I feel Sinclair connect to me down our bond, and then together we turn to the little silver bond that runs

he puts a mental finger out and

a glowing rush, I suddenly

a line of sweetness and determination

with

overwhelmed. “When Rafe

Slowly, Sinclair nods.

I ask, smacking him on the shoulder

you to be jealous,” he murmurs, “which you definitely

with him, conceding the point as tears slip down my cheeks, as I look down at my flat belly and press a hand over it where she exists, where she’ll grow. “She’s already…like the start